Sanitary bottle-crate



0. E. WATSON.

SANITARY BOTTLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED M-AY1'71919- PatentedJune 1, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1- anmmtoz O. E. WATSON.

SANITARY BOTTLE CRATE.

APPL C 1,341, 69 Patented June 1, 1920.

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OLTVER E. WATSON, 0F DAYTON, OHIO.

SANITARY BOTTLE-CRATE.

Be it known that I, OLIVER ENVA'rsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and'State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sanitary Bottle- Crates, of which the followingis a spec1fication.

T his invention relates to new and .useful improvements in sanitary bottle orates.

The principal object of the invention 1s to provide for milk bottles and the like, a sanitary and eificient crate that is free from rods, rivets and other parts that collect dirt and waste. The crate is not only Simpleand firm in construction, but affords a resil ent support for the bottles, thereby protecting them from injury due to sudden and violent ars that are likely to occur when the crate 1s roughly handled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal crate that is light and durable in construction, and one which may be made practically rust-proof by galvanization. Crates constructed of wood deteriorate quickly when exposed to water, with the result that they soon become unsanitary and frequentlyhave a disagreeable odor. crate, on the other hand, isconstructed with a View to prevent the formation of bacteria, by providing the least number of parts possible, while those that are used in its construction will not collect dirt and waste, or deteriorate when frequently cleansed or exposed to the weather.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame for the crate that is composed of tubular or pipe members, which are not only strong and rigid, but which will not collect and retain dust and waste like other elements. The interior supporting structure for the bottles may be made of pressed metal whose different portions may be cast in one piece or spot-welded together.

One form of embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved bottle crate. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view of the crate. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line A--A of Fig. 3, showing how the bottle holders are secured to the tubular upright members. Fig. 5 is a side view of a bottle in its upright position within one of the holders. And Fig. 6 is a side View of Specification of Letters Patent. PatentedJ-une 1, 15920,

1919. Serial No. 297,849.

the same bottle in its inverted position if within said holder. I j v I Throughout the specification anddr awings, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings, the numerals 1 1 designatea pair of horizontal base side members and'22 apair of horizontal base end members, fpr'eferablyconsisting of tubing or piping and connected in rectangular form by coupling bends or blocks 3. These bends 3 consist ofmetal blocks, each of which has three right-angled tubular projections. each block are horizontal to tightly receive the base side and end members 1 and '2 respectively, while its other tubularprojection is vertical to receive the lower end of an upright tubular member 4, The ends of the tubular members 1, 2 and 4 are firmly held in the 'tubular'projections of the coupling blocks 3 by pins 5. From the body portion of each block 3, which is preferably solid, there projects downwardly a short leg '6 that is adapted readily to enter the vertical projection of a top coupling block 7 similar to the lower coupling blocks 3, when the crates are stacked. (See Figs. 1,2,3 and 4.)

The downwardly extending tubular projections of the coupling blocks? are adapted to receive the upper ends of the upright tubular members 4 and to which the latter are firmly secured by the pins 5. The horizontal right-angled tubular projections of said coupling blocks 7 are adapted to receive the ends of top horizontal side tubular members 8 8 and top horizontal end tubular members 9 The members 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9 when assembled as above described, form a framework for the crate that is strong and rigid,

and one that offers no crevices or spaces for.

dust or dirt to collect. It is difficult for particles of dirt to remain on tubing, for it may be jarred or Washed therefrmnquite easily.

For the purpose of holding the bottle firmly, yet resiliently, within the frame just 7 described, there are provided a series of metallic band supporting-devices. Each device consists of a top circular band of metal 10 with four downwardly and inwardly bent extensions 11 whose lower ends are hookshaped to receive and support a ring 12 of smaller diameter than the band 10. These supporting devices are preferably arranged in the crate frame-work as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and while I have illustrated SIX of them, any greater or less number may be provided if desired. These supporting devices are preferably spot-welded to each other at the points where they touch, while the end holders are connected to the upright members 4 by ears 13 that project diagonally from the bands 10 as shown in Fig. 4:. These ears 13 are tightly secured to theadjacent upright members lthat pass through their outer ends for the purpose of firmly holding the bottle supporting unit within the frame.

An empty bottle in its inverted position, is held in one of the metallic band holders as shown in Fig. 6, the top of the bottle bearing against the lower ends of the band extensions 11 just above the ring 12, where by said bottle is afforded a resilient support within the crate, since the'band extensions will give slightly when said crate is sub.- jected to shocks and jars.

Filled bottles, on the other hand, are supported in an upright position by the metallic band holders, in the manner shown in Fig. 5, the bottom of the bottle engaging the band extensions 11 just below the point 7 where they start ,to bend inwardly. The

bottle is thus afforded a resilient support when in an upright position for the reason given above.

The holders just described, being simple in construction and free from rivets and similar 7 fastening elements, afford practically no opportunity for dust, dirt and other waste tocollect upon them, with the result that these holders, like the tubular framework of the crate, are sanitary in construction and easily cleansed. The holders are also constructed with a viewto the easy insertion and removal of the bottles; and when they are once inserted, will retain them firmly and resiliently until removed.

Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A metallic bottle crate comprising tubular side and end horizontal members, and upright members, connecting blocks having right-angled tubular projections into which said members telescope, and metallic-band bottle holders spot-welded together, sup-- ported by said tubular upright members within the crate.

2. A metallic bottle crate comprising side and end horizontal members, and upright members, means for connecting said members together, a series of bottle-receiving metallic bands within said crate, ear projections on said bands through which said upright members project and to which said ear portions are secured, and downwardly and inwardly extending projections on said bands resiliently to support bottles within said crate. I,

3. A metallic bottle crate comprising side and end horizontal members, and upright members, means for connecting'said members together, a series of bottle receiving metallic-bands. within said crate,means for firmly securing said bands to the upright members, downwardly and inwardly extendingprojections on said bands resiliently to support bottles within said crate, hookshaped ends on said projections, and a ring supported by said hook-shaped ends, said ring being of smaller diameter than the metallic band.

7 In testimony my hand this 15th day of May, 1919. OLIVER E. WATSON. Witness: 1

HOWARD S. SMITH.

whereof I have hereunto set 

